Gamecocks fall 2-1 to Alabama

COLUMBIA, SC – South Carolina sophomore left-hander Jack Wynkoop and Alabama junior left-hander Justin Kamplain competed in a pitcher's duel with the eighth-ranked Crimson Tide breaking a 1-1 tie with a run in the seventh on the way to a 2-1 win over the eighth-ranked Gamecocks. The Gamecocks are now 33-11 and 11-9 in the SEC with the Crimson Tide improving to 29-14 and 13-7 in league action.

The rubber game of the series is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN and can be heard on the Gamecock IMG Network including flagship station, 107.5 FM, "The Game."

Wynkoop suffers the loss for South Carolina and falls to 5-3 on the year. Wynkoop worked 6.1 innings allowing two runs, both earned, on seven hits while striking out four batters. Kamplain improves to 4-2 on the year with freshman left-hander Thomas Burrows adding 2.2 scoreless innings of relief for his ninth save of the season.

Alabama struck first with a two-out home run off the bat of Ben Moore in the first inning, his sixth homer of the season.

South Carolina evened the game at 1-1 in the third inning after a leadoff double from DC Arendas and a pair of sacrifice hits pushed a run across including a sac fly from Marcus Mooney.

The Crimson Tide scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning. Wade Wass opened the frame with a double to left-center and was sacrificed over to third by Kyle Overstreet. Casey Hughston drove in Wass with an RBI single through the right side.

The Crimson Tide out hit the Gamecocks seven to five. Taylor Widener finished the game 2-for-4 and also pitched 2.2 hitless innings of relief. Ben Moore and Chance Vincent both had two hits to lead Alabama at the plate.